Relay



Feb- 5, 1963 K. H. EHRlsMANN 3,076,880

RELAY Filed April 19, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 5, 1963 K. H. EHRlsMANN 3,076,880

RELAY Filed April 19. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arr-ORME Ys.

3,076,880 RELAY Kurt H. Ehrismann, Port Washington, N.Y., assignor to C.P. yClare & Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr.19, 1960, ser. No. 23,230

11 Claims. (Cl. 200-104) This invention relates to an electric relayand, more particularly, to an electromagnetic relay operable in responseto an electric signal.

In one type of prior electric relay, coil is positioned on a stationaryfield ported at one end on a magnetizable field structure. Amagnetizable armature is spaced from the free end of the pole so that anair gap is formed between the pole and the armature. The armature isconnected to actuate the electrical' contacts.

Such prior relays have generally required that the adjustment of theai-r gap affect the stroke of the armature and, consequently, thecontact spacing of the switch contacts. Moreover, difficulty has beenexperienced with such prior relays in that they did not possesssufficient mechanical strength when subjected tothe effects of shock andvibration. This was particularly true as regards the field pole whichsupports t-he electromagnetic coil. As the field pole is cantilevered atone end to the field structure, difficulty has been experienced inmaintaining the free end of .the pole in desired position and alignmentrelative to the armature.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved electromagnetic relay which overcomes the aforementioneddifficulties.

A further. object of this invention is .to provide an improvedelectromagnetic relay in which the air gap thereof may be adjustedindependently of the contact spacing.

A further object of this invention is to provide an elec tromagneticrelay with improved means for adjusting the air gap thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electromagneticrelay having improved means for actuating contact means in response to asignal impulse.

A still further object of the presen-t invention is to provide'animproved shock andl vibration insensitive electromagnetic relay which isof simple and economical construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electromagneticrelay of the ltype which has a cantilevered field pole supported on afield structure with an improved means of locking the free end of thecantileveredfeld pole.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe .following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Briefly stated, in accordance with the invention, an electromagneticrelay includes a generally U-shaped magnetizable field structure havingboth a frame member and a pole member on which -an electromagnetic coilis mounted. In order to positively support the free end of the polemember, it is secured to the field member by a novel stabilizing washerand bracket assembly. A pivotally movable armature assembly is securedto the frame member in one of a plurality of selectable positions topermit an alignment of 4the armature and pole member so, as to fix ythelengthy of the stroke of the armature through a first air gap. Moreover,the armature may be selectively positioned from the' frame member toform a second or variable air gap in series with the first air gapandwhioh provides an adjustment of the total air gap to alterl theoperating characteristics of the relay. A pluan electromagnetic polewhich is sup- 3,076,880 Patented Feb. 5, 1.516,3`

rality of swi-tch contacts mounted in a fixed position on,

the field structure is connected Yto the armature by a slidingconnection so that the pole member does not vary the normal relativepositions of the contact springs.

The nature of .the invention will best be understoodl when described inconnection with the" accompanying.

drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of an electromagnetic relay embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the relay;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of a portion of a contact springoperator assembly included in the relay shown in IFIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view'in partial section illustratingthe relay from the end opposite to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded isometric viewof the relay with the contact springassembly removed; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view illustrating a sta.` blizingbracket and a means for mounting the bracket on a frame structure.

Referring now to the drawings,thek improved electromagnetic relay showngenerally at 10 structure 11 formed of a heelpiece or member 12 having alongleg -12a anda substantially right angles to each other. structure1-1 also includes a member 13 having one end L-shaped frame 13a thereofsecured` -to the shortleg 12b of the field piece 12 and having a treeend 13d extending generally parallel .to the long leg 12a of the fieldpiece y12. The Ifield structure 11 is lformed of magnetizable materialsuch as soft iron. An electromagnetic coil or inductive means 14 is Forthe purpose of completing the magnetic circuit of the relay and ofactuating a switching assembly on thef frame structure 12, there isprovided a magnetic armatureY to a contact spring opertaor assembly' 1-6that issecured 17 formed of non-magnetic components. The operatorassembly 17, which can be supported on theframe structure 12 atdifferent positions, pivotally supports the armature 'I6-fin a positionbridging the space between the free end 13d of the pole member 13 andthe free end of' the long arm 12a of the field position of the relay 10,one end of theV armature 16 isv adjustably positioned adjacent the upperend of the long arm 12a ofthe field member 12 to form a variable sizeair gap and the other end of the armature is spaced above the free end13d of the pole member 13 to define la fixed size air gap. Byl adjustingthel position of4 the, armature 16 relative to the free end of the 12aof the field'piece 12 (1FIG. 3), the air gap of the magnetic circuit canbe adjusted to control the operating characteristics of'the relay 10.However, this adjustment does not alter the size of the fixed airgapbetween the armature and the end- 13d of the pole member 13 andthereforedoes not change the stroke of the armature 16 or operator .assemblyA 17.

The contact spring operator assembly plate or supporting member- 18(FIG.l 6) Aon what U-shaped element 22 is pivotally mounted; The plate18 contains a plurality of elongated apertures or slots 19, andthelong'leg 12a of the field piece 12 is providedv with a plurality ofthreaded apertures 20 which arealigned; with the slots 19; A pluralityofiscrews 2l 17 includes a which a some/- alignment of the armature and;

includes` a field;

short leg 12b at` The frame stationary field pole or pole` positioned onthe pole mem ber 13. The pole member 13 can convienently be securedVthreaded member 13b whichd 12f in the short leg 12b andi` piece 12. Inthe dea-energized4 long leg.

l 3 (FIGS. l and 3) which extend through supporting means for theassembly and the slots 19 into the threaded apertures adjustably securethe plate 18 to the iield piece 12. The elongated slots 19 permit theplate 18 to be adjustably positioned along the end of the long leg 12ato permit the alignment of the armature 16 with the end 13d of the polemember 13 thereby -xing the size of the air gap between these membersand therefore the length of the armature stroke. Moreover, the armature16 m-ay be accurately squared with the end 13d of the pole member toprovide uniform ilux distribution.

The armature extension or U-shaped element 22 is pivotally secured toone end of the plate 18 by a pin 23 which passes through a pair ofspaced, aligned openings 26 in the upper end of the plate 18 and a pairof aligned openings 22C in two parallel -arms 22b of the element 22.vThe armature extension 22 is preferably made of a light nonmagneticmaterial to minimize the inertia of the moving system. The two arms 22bof the element 22 are joined by an ofset bight portion 22a to which thearma ture 16 .is secured. The free ends of the arms 22b support labridge element 25 for actuating the contact springs in the assembly 15.

To provide for adjustment of the air gap to control the operatingcharacteristics of the relay, a variable size air gap is providedbetween the end of the armature 16 and the frame member 12 in serieswith the air gap formed between the armature 16 and the pole member 13.The armature 16 is secured to the bight portion V22a of the element 22by a plurality of threaded fasteners orI screws 16a which extend throughelongated apertures or slots 22d in the element 22 and which arereceived in threaded apertures in the armature 16. The elongated slots22d provide for the adjustable positioning of the armature 16 relativeto the end of the long leg 12a of the frame member 12 to provide for theadjustment of the air gap therebetween.

For the purpose of securing the free end 13d of the pole member 13 tothe heelpiece 12, there is provided a stabilizing washer and astabilizing bracket 31 which are formed of a nonmagnetic material suchas brass. The stabilizing washer 30 comprises a circular main body offlat sheet material which is mounted on the upper end of' the coil 14(FIG. 3) with the free end 13d of the pole member 13 extending upwardthrough a central aperture 3'0b in the washer 30. A slot 30e` extendingradially from the aperture 30b to the outer periphery of the washer 30permits the edge of the opening 30b to resiliently engage the polemember 13. A -at dielectric terminal member 32 is mounted on the uppersurface o f -the washer 30 and includes an opening 32a for receiving thepole member 13. The member32 supports a pair of electrical terminals 33which are connected to the coil 14. The terminal member 32 and thewasher `30 are held in a fixedasesmbled rel-ation by a pair of tabs 30dformed integral with the washer 30 which are disposed in a pair of slotsor recesses 32b in the edges of thev terminal member 32. v

The stabilizing bracket 31 (FIG.l 6) includes a gener# ally Y-shaped arm31a mounted on the upper surface of the member 32 and havingga pair ofarms or extensions 31b forming a V-shaped opening through which the polemember 13 passes. Each extension =31b contains a slot or recess 31e inits outer edge through which the tabs 30d of the stabilizing washer 30pass. The ends of the tabs 30d are bent over (FIG. 5) against the uppersurface of the stabilizing bracket 31 to hold the washer 30, the member32, and the bracket 31 in an asesmbled relation. The stabilizing bracket31 also includes a support portion 31d offset at substantially a rightangle to the arm 31a I'and having a pair of opposite channel portions31e (FIG. 7). The channel portions 31e are slidably mounted on a pair ofrecessed edges 12e of the long arm 12a of the frame member 12. Are'silienttongue 31g struck out o f the portion 31d engages a recess 12din the long arm 12a to lock the bracket 31 in a proper position on thefield structure 11. In this position, a pair of apertures 31h in theportion 31d are aligned with the two uppermost apertures 2t) of the longarm 12a of the frame member 12 to permit the two upper screws 21 to betightened.

When the relay 10 is asesmbled, the pole member13 is secured to theshort leg 12b of the frame member 12, and the coil 14 is mounted on thispole member. The washer 30, terminal member 32 and the bracket 31 aresecured in yan assembled relationV by the lugs 30d and the recesses 32hand 31C. The channel portions 31e are placed on the recessed edges 12e,and the stabilizing assembly is then moved downwardly on the eldstructure 11 so that the free end 13d of the pole member 13 is receivedwithin the openings 30h and 32a and so that the tongue 31g slidesdownwardly along the inner surface of the upper end of the long leg 12auntil it snaps into the recess 12d to lock the assembly in apredetermined position on the field structure 11. Inthis position, the

' free end 13d of the pole member 13 is positively secured in a fixedposition on the frame member 12.

The contactspring assembly 15, which is actuated by the operatorassembly 17, comprises two similar pileups, each including a pluralityof iixed contact springs 50 and a plurality of pairs of movable contactspringsv 51a and 51b. One end of each of the switch blades 50,

51a and 51b is secured in one of a pair of dielectric sup-v portingassemblies 53 comprising a plurality of separate insulating plates 54and an outer plate 56. Each of the two pileups in the assembly 15 alsocontains at least one biasing spring 55 which is secured to theinsulating supporting assembly 53 and which biases the movable contactsprings 51a and 51b to the normal position shown in the drawings. Thetwo supporting assemblies 53, theV springs 55, the fixed switch blades50, and movable switch blades 51a and 51b, are held in position on theframe member 12 by the screws 21 which extend through openings in theseelements and the slots 19 in the plate 18 tol be threadedly received inthe apertures 20. The screws 21 are electrically isolated from theblades 50 `and 51 by the use of enlarged .apertures in the blades 50 and51. Two dielectric spacing posts 57 which pass through'openings in themovable springs 51a and 5-1b engage the fixed springs 50 to hold thefree ends of these springs in a iixed position. The lower ends ofthecontact springs 50, 51a and 51b carry a plurality of con'-l tacts 60.

To provide means for actuating the switching assembly 15, there isprovided a pair of dielectric members 61 having a pair of tongues 61e atone end which are positioned within a pair of openings 25a in the bridgeelement 25 carried on the lower end of the arms 22b. The other ends ofthe two members 61 are providedwith a pair of tongues 61b that arereceived within a pair of openings 55a (FIG. l) in the bias springs 55.Each of the members 61 includes a plurality of slots or apertures 62v.(FIG.` 4) in which the free ends ofA themovable springs 51 in one ofthe contact spring stacks are freely sli-dable. The slots 62 are soarranged that each pair of movable springs 51a and 51b is separated byan insulating portion ofthe member 61. Thus, when the members 61 aremoved to the left (FIGS. 3 and 4), the contacts 60 on the springs 51aare moved away from the contacts 60 on the fixed springs 50 by positiveengagement 'with the member 61, While the resiliency of the displacedsprings V51b permits the contacts 60` on the springs 51b to move intoengagement with the mating contacts on the fixed springs 50.

Having thus described the construction of the new and improved relay 10,its operation will now be explained. The relay in FIG. 3 is illustratedin the de-energized position. Upon energization of the coil 14 by anelectric signal, the armature 16 is drawn toward the pole member 13 andthe element 22 is rotated about the pin 23 in a clockwise directionthereby moving the members 61 tothe left against the bias of the springs55. The members 61 engage vthe movable blades 51a to move the blades tothe left and open the contacts 60 between these blades and the fixedblades 50. Simultaneously, the resiliency of the blades 51b, whosecontacts 60 are open with respect to their mating contacts on blades 50,moves the blades 51b to the left until the contacts on the blades Srlbengage Itheir mating contacts on the fixed blades 50. Uponyde-energization of the coil 14, the bias of the springs 55 will movethe member 61 and the bridge member 25 to the right (as viewed in FIG.3), rotating the armature assembly 22 counterclockwise. The resiliencyof the blades 51a biases their contacts 60 into,

engagement with the mating contacts 60 on the fixed blades 50, and themember 61 moves the blades 51b to the right to disengage their contactsfrom the mating contacts on the fixed blades 50.

To provide for alignment of the armature 16 with the fra-me structure 12and the pole member 13, the screws 21 are loosened and the lower surfaceof the armature 16 is moved into contact with the fiat end 13d of thepole member 13 against the force of the springs 55. The end of thearmature 16 adjacent the upper end of the long leg v12a of the framemember 12 is moved against this frame member after loosening the screws16a thereby insuring that the armature is not only parallel to the flattop 13d of the pole member 13 but also perpendicular to the framesrtucture 12. The plate l18 can be adjusted relative to the frame member-to permity this positioning of the armature 16 because of the elongatedslots 19 in the plate 18 through which the screws 21 pass. The contactassembly 15, however, .is not tmoved with the plate 18 since the screws21 extend through close fitting apertures in the insulated support blockassembly 53 to hold the contact assembly 15 in a fixed position.Therefore, movement of the plate 18 longitudinally along the long leg12a of the heelpiece 12 moves the armature and armature assembly withoutmoving the contact assembly 15. Movement of the armature extension 22will, of course, move the bridge member 25 and the mating end of thedielectric member 61 because of the engagement of tongue 61e in the slot25a of bridge member 25. The member 61 will then pivot at the apertures55a yof the springs 55 through which the tongue 61b -thereof` extends.Because of the sliding fit of the movable switch blades 51 in the slots62 of the member 61, the member 61 is freely movablein-this directionwith respect to the blades 51. When the armature 16 has been adjusted tothe desired posit-ion, the screws 21 are tightened to lock the plate 18in position.

To provide for adjustment of the size of the effective air gap, the gapformed between the end of the armature 16 and the frame member 12 canthen be varied without changing the armature operating stroke by movingthe armature 16 to the right as viewed in FIG. 3. The desired spacingbetween the armature -16 and the upper end of the long leg 12a of theframe member 12 can be accurately adjusted by inserting gauges. As thisair gap is in series with the air gap formed betweenl the pole member 13and the armature 16, the positioning of the armature 16 relative Ito theframe member 12 permits the total effective length of the air gap to beadjusted throughout the desired r-ange of operating characteristics.When this gap is properly adjusted, the screws 16a are tightened, thegauges are removed, and the armature 16 is released so that it is -movedto the position shown in FIG. 3 by the springs 55.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to asingle embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous otherembodiments can -be devised by those skilled in the art that will fallwithin the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired tol be Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A relay comprising a field structure, electromagnetic coil-meanscarried by said field structure, contact means mounted on said fieldstructure, an armature assembly rotatably mounted with respect tosaid'field structure and'having an arma-ture in spaced magneticallyinductive relation with said field structure forming a preselected airgap and adapted for movement in response to signals received by saidcoil means, said armature forming an additional adjustable air gapbetween said armature and said field structure, contact actuatingmeansresponsive to movement of said armature, and means for adjustably movingsaid armature' with respect to said field structure to selectively varysaid adjustable air gap spacing between said armature and said fieldstructure without affecting the length of the stroke of said armature.

2. A relay comprising a field structure, electromagnetic coil meanscarried by said field structure, contact means mounted on said fieldstructure and including at least one pair of electrical contacts movabletoward and away from each other between an open and a closed position,an armature assembly rotatably mounted with respect to saidfield-structure and having an armature in spaced: inductive relationwith said field structure forming a preselected air gap and adapted formovement in response to signals received by said coil means, saidarmature forming an additional adjustable air gap between said armatureand said field structure, contact actuating meansv responsive tomovement of said armature for moving said contacts between said open andsaid closed positions, and means for moving said armature with referenceto said field structure tov selectively adjust said adjustable air gapbetween said armature and said field struct-ure ,without affecting thelength of the stroke of said armature.

3. A relay comprising a magnetic field structure defining spacedportions, a coil mounted on said structure, a magnetic armature,supporting means for movably mounting said armature adjacent one of saidportions in a position substantially bridging said spaced portions,mounting means for mounting said supporting means in a selected one of aplurality of spaced positions on said one portion to vary the positionof said armature relative to the other of said spaced portions, toprovide` a preselected armature movement, contact means includsecured'by ing a plurality of contact springs mounted in a fixed positionrelative to said field structure, operating means controlled by saidarmature for moving at least one of said contact springs to actuate saidcontact means, said operating means including means providing a slidingconnection between said armature and said one contact spring to permitsaid supporting means to be secured in said position without moving saidcontact springs and adjusting means independent ofi said mounting meansfor selectively positioning said armature relative to said one portion-to provide a desired air gap spacing therebetween while maintaining thepreselected armature movement.

4. A relay comprising a field structure including an L-shaped framemember of magnetizable material and having a long leg and a short legand further including a stationary pole member of magnetizable materialhaving one end secured to said short leg and having a free end extendingin the direction of said long leg, a coil positioned on said polemember, a plate adjustably secured to the end of said long leg forselective positioning along said long leg, an armature extensionpivotally mounted on said plate, an armature of magnetizable materialcarried by said armature extension in spaced magnetically inductiverelation to both said pole member and said frame member and forming airgaps with both said pole member when said coil is in a de-energizedcondition and with said frame member, means adjustably positioning saidarmature relative to said frame member, contact means mounted on saideld structure, actuating means actuating said contact means in responseto movement of said armature, and mean-s biasing said armature away fromsaid pole piece when said coil is de-energized.

5. A relay as defined in claim 4 above wherein said contact meanscomprise an insulating block support assembly mounted on said framemember, at least one iixed switch-blade mounted in said supportassembly, at least one adjacent movable switch' blade biased toward saidiixed blade, and mating contacts carried by said blades at least one ofwhich is movable between a switch closed and a switch open position, andwherein said actuating means comprises an insulating member having atleast one slot through which the free end of said movable switch bladeextends and movable with said armtaure extension in response to themovement of said armature whereby movement of said insulating membermoves said contacts with respect to each other.

6. A relay as defined in claim 4 above wherein said armature extensionis of light nonmagnetic material.

7. A relay as deiined in claim 4 above wherein said contact meanscomprises a dielectric supporting assembly mounted on said frame member,a plurality of xed switch blades mounted in said supporting assembly andeach containing at least one electrical Contact, a plurality-'of movableswitch blades mounted in said supporting assembly and each carrying anelectrical contact cooperable with a mating one of v said contactscarried by one of said iixed switch blades, each of said movable s witchblades having a normal bias tending to move it toward itsnmating contactcarried by said' fixed blade, and wherein said actuating means comprisesan insulating member movable with said' armature extension in responseto the movement of said armature and containing a plurality of aperturesthrough which at least one movable switch blade slidably extends wherebymovement of said insulating member moves said contacts with respect toeach other, and a spring mounted on said insulating block assembly andbiasing said insulating member and armature in-to the deenergizedposition of said relay.

8. A relay as deiined in claim 4 above and additionally including astabilizer washer having a central aperture through which the polemember extends and having a pair of oppositely located tabs, a terminalboard of insulating material containing a plurality of terminal memberssecured to said coil and through which said pole member passes andlocated adjacent said stabilizer washer, and a substantially angularlyshaped stabilizer bracket having a pair of arms containing grooves forreceiving said tabs and'containing a channel-shaped section adapted toslidably receive the long leg of said frame member thereby to secure thefree end ofsaid pole member. j

9. A relay comprising a eld structure including an L-shaped frame memberof magnetizable material and having a long leg and a short leg andfurther including a stationary pole member of magnetizable materialhaving one end secured to said short leg and having a free end extendingin the direction of said long leg, a coil positioned on said polemember, an armature extension pivotally mounted adjacent the end of saidlong leg, an armature of magnetizable material carried by Said armatureextension in spaced magnetically inductive relation to both said polemember and said frame member and forming air gaps with both said polemember when said coil is in a de-energized condition and with said framemember, means adjustably positioning said armature relative to saidframe member, contact means mounted on said eld structure, actuatingmeans actuating said contact means in response to movement of saidarmature, and means biasing said armature away from said pole piece whensaid coil is de-energized.

10. A relay comprising a magnetic field structure having a pair ofgenerally parallel legs, a winding mounted on one of said legs, andnonmagnetic means for securingl said winding on said one leg and formaintaining the free ends of said legs in a predetermined spacedposition, said means including a rigid Structure slidably mounted onboth of said free ends and secured to the other of said legs.

1l. A relay comprising a iield structure of magnetizable materialincluding an L-shaped frame member having a long leg and a short leg andfurther including a stationary cylindrical pole member of magnetizablematerial mounted on the short leg of said frame member and having a freeend extending in the direction of said long leg, an electromagnetic coilpositioned on said pole member, a stabilizing washer of nonmagnetizablematerial having a central aperture positioned over the free end of saidpole member and having a pair of tabs extending in the direction of Saidlong leg, and a stabilizing bracket of generally angle-shapednonmagnetizable material having a pair of extensions each containing agroove adapted to receive one of said tabs and further containing achannel-shaped portion adapted to slidably engage the long leg of saidfield member thereby to secure the free end of said cantilevered polemember to said frame member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,115,836 Zupa May 3, 1938 2,556,716 Viol June 12, 1951 2,755,356 JuckerJuly 17, 1956 2,842,637 Adams et al. July 8, 1958 2,897,317 HufnagelJuly 28, 1959 2,904,729 Harwood Sept. l5, 195,9 2,913,551 vigren et a1.Nov. 17, 1959.

' FOREIGN PATENTS 581,459 Germany July 13, 1933

1. A RELAY COMPRISING A FIELD STRUCTURE, ELECTROMAGNETIC COIL MEANSCARRIED BY SAID FIELD STRUCTURE, CONTACT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID FIELDSTRUCTURE, AN ARMATURE ASSEMBLY ROTATABLY MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAIDFIELD STRUCTURE AND HAVING AN ARMATURE IN SPACED MAGNETICALLY INDUCTIVERELATION WITH SAID FIELD STRUCTURE FORMING A PRESELECTED AIR GAP ANDADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT IN RESPONSE TO SIGNALS RECEIVED BY SAID COIL MEANS,SAID ARMATURE FORMING AN ADDITIONAL ADJUSTABLE AIR GAP BETWEEN SAIDARMATURE AND SAID FIELD STRUCTURE, CONTACT ACTUATING MEANS RESPONSIVE TOMOVEMENT OF SAID ARMATURE, AND MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY MOVING SAID ARMATUREWITH RESPECT TO SAID FIELD STRUCTURE TO SELECTIVELY VARY SAID ADJUSTABLEAIR GAP SPACING BETWEEN SAID ARMATURE AND SAID FIELD STRUCTURE WITHOUTAFFECTING THE LENGTH OF THE STROKE OF SAID ARMATURE.